JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Forecasts show auroras could be visible in Canada and much of the northern U.S. states and even farther south Monday night following a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field.
Sean Dahl, service coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said the forecast was made during a strong geomagnetic and solar radiation storm.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, geomagnetic storms can not only cause clear northern lights but also interfere with satellite operations, GPS communications and other infrastructure. Dahl said the current storm is not expected to become weaker until sometime Tuesday.
In November, solar storms brought vibrant auroras to parts of Europe, including Hungary and the United Kingdom, as well as the southern U.S. states of Kansas, Colorado and Texas.
Solar radiation storms can affect objects in space and some types of communications systems, but Dahl said astronauts on the International Space Station are not currently in danger. He said the storm was of an intensity not seen in more than two decades.
